Leading and motivating a team effectively

1.1 Explain the importance of the team having a common sense of propose that supports the overall vision and strategy of the organisation

Leaders draw people into a shared sense of purpose by creating a distinctive well crafted and compelling vision of the organisations future. This is done in the following ways:
High levels of employee engagement
A sense of purpose leads employees to feel motivated and committed to the organisation. Employees in organisations with a strong sense of shared purpose find their work to be absorbing and meaningful. They are also more satisfied with their pay and want to stay with the organisation. Developing a shared sense of purpose drives employee engagement. A strong sense of community

A shared sense of purpose is a strong force that enables people to work collaboratively to achieve the organisation’s goals, rather than developing their own position at the expense of colleagues. This sense of community can be expressed through shared values and interests, which go on to heighten the shared sense of purpose. Effective teams

Leader managers must instil a strong sense of shared purpose in their team for them to be fully effective. They must foster a sense of purpose both ‘locally’ in the team and ‘globally’ within the organisation as a whole, People are then aware of both with their team’s goals and those of the organisation. The shared sense of purpose enables distributed leadership. Employees need to feel a sense of purpose for being at work – a motivation to work for somebody else and to remain committed every day. The public sector is often hailed as a flag-bearer for getting this right, as it naturally attracts employees who want to make a difference to the wider community. But the private sector can achieve the same level of commitment from its employees, as long as the company’s values and purpose are clearly defined and communicated. By understanding and believing in what the company stands for, seeing the value in its goods or services, and seeing these services delivered ethically and to a high standard, employees will develop a clear sense of purpose.

1.2 Explain the role that communication plays in establishing a common sense of purpose It is reasonable for employees to expect communication and information; the unattractive alternative is a rumour mill. But employers need to think carefully about what to communicate. Show respect for your employees by not covering up bad news or giving it a positive spin, as most people will be able to see straight through it. Employees will not be able to help their company to embrace change if they are not made aware of the situation, or the chosen course of action. A manager must be able to tell their employees what is expected of them, sympathise with their situation, and publicly recognise individual and team performances.

Communicate as much as possible about as much as possible. Constant reinforcement of key messages improves memory and understanding. 1.3 Assess the effectiveness of own communication skills on the basis of the above. I feel that I can communicate with people effectively, praising good work and discussing areas that require development. In my previous job role as a retail manager I felt that I could approach any member of my staff with praise or issues requiring attention, ensuring that knew that I was transparent with my management approach and that my workers could be sure that I was telling them ‘the whole story’. This allowed me to empower people to handle instances as that arose whilst I could still remain sympathetic with their personal situations.

2.1 Describe the main motivational factors in work context and how these may apply to different situations. Teams and individuals Each employee has a different set of factors that motivates them to do their best work. Company owners need to understand what the motivations of workers are in order to effectively manage and grow a company that has the full support of its employees. Money is often the first factor to come to mind, but successful leader managers will see that as just one part of a larger picture of incentives that drives employees to excel at their jobs. Some of these are: Financial reward

Many people work to provide housing, food, clothing and entertainment for themselves and their families. Works allows people to live. Some workers will dedicate greater time and effort for the opportunity to increase their pay through raises, bonuses or promotions. Others may be happy to accept a less competitive pay package in exchange for doing work that they enjoy. Benefits like pension packages can also fit in this category. The cost of having these benefits outside of a work context can be prohibitive. Maintaining these benefits motivates many employees to stay with a business and do well in the company. Personal Satisfaction

Workers that enjoy their jobs look forward to going to work, stay engaged during the day and show dedication to the business. Not everyone has the opportunity to be involved with a company that is a passion, but a company owner can provide a supportive workplace where employees feel valued and rewarded. This kind of positive working environment fosters job loyalty and keeps employees happy and motivated. Flexibility

Offering employees flexibility in their work can help keep them on track and motivated. Flexible working hours that accommodate family schedules, school holidays, or a work from home option are all powerful incentives. These perks can be given as bonuses to employees that meet certain goals or expectations. Flexible working hours open up the potential to employ good workers who can’t work a ‘traditional’ full time position due to family or other reasons. Employees appreciate being able to have a life outside of your business. Being supportive of that can be a strong motivator. Impact

Workers like to know that what they do has a positive impact on the people and world around them. This may be as simple as bringing a smile to a customer’s face, or fixing a problem they have. Happy customers help to make employees happy and keep them motivated. The reward of customer appreciation can go a long way to keeping employees interested in their work on a day to day basis. Recognition

Recognizing employees for accomplishments such as finishing a major project, reaching sales targets or providing excellent customer service can be an important motivating factor. Set goals for workers to strive for and offer rewards for reaching them. This could be in the form of an employee of the month scheme, a bonus, or a promotion. Some companies conduct meetings where employees are recognised for good work in front of their colleagues. This can help motivate all the workers in the business to strive for success.

2.2 Explain the importance of a leader being able to motivate teams and individuals and gain their commitment to objectives Any leader knows that leading by example is an effective way to motivate. A leader that does this is normally treated with respect and fairness. One part of the importance of motivation involves self motivating. Leaders that are self motivated and disciplined often can lead by example with ease. They understand what goals need to be accomplished and how to get there. Self motivation doesn’t always come naturally to everyone. Generate improved self motivation by working on goal setting skills in conjunction with positive thinking, visualisation of success and self confidence. The importance of motivation in the workplace allows leader managers to create employee motivation action plans.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Abraham Maslow in 1943 developed this motivation theory that is still followed today. It also is a solid way to explain the importance of motivation. The basis of his theory discusses the importance of being comfortable with certain needs before moving on to the next desired need.

The process is simple; an individual will not be motivated until all the needs of a stage are achieved. Once a stage is complete the process to move onto the next desired stage starts. The process starts with physiological needs and is complete with completion of the final stage called Self-actualization. Employee motivation theories have created success for the workplace and everyday life. The effects have been felt by both employees and leaders. Understanding the importance of motivation leads to self motivating. Theories of motivation allow us to determine what level of desire a person is willing to excel. With that knowledge in place, leaders can employ proper employee motivation strategies. 2.3 Explain the role that a leader plays in supporting and developing the team and its members and give practical examples of when this will be necessary Teamwork is something that is nurtured and devolved with a cooperative effort between the team and the leader manager. To facilitate the effective development of a team the leader manager must understand their role. If the leader performs their job properly, the team produces well and becomes an efficient part of the company. Some of the roles of a leader are listed below:

Resolving Conflict
One of the difficult parts of being a leader trying to facilitate team development is in resolving internal group conflicts. In some cases, conflict can be good, and it can inspire staff members to improve their skills and contribute more to the team’s success. At other times, conflict can become damaging and threaten the successful development of the team. It is the leader’s role to monitor conflict and determine when it is time to step in and what methods should be used to resolve the situation.

Setting Direction
The team leader gives the team direction and then gives them rules and policies designed to move the team towards fulfilling its goals. A leader must help his group to understand the specifics of the team’s objectives, create a method for reaching them and then work with the team members to complete their obligations. The leader must be prepared to reprimand team members that do not follow the rules. Serving as Spokesperson

A group consists of many different kinds of people all possessing a valuable skill. But when the group needs to speak as one entity to the higher management team, another department or entities outside the company, the leader must step up and be the spokesperson. The leader understands the details of the group’s operation, and needs to be fully qualified to speak on behalf of the team when necessary. Setting an Example

When the members of a work team are looking for an example of how to work within company guidelines, how to act like a professional in any situation and how to maximize productivity, they should be able to look to the leader manager as an example. A manager becomes the model for group members to look to for motivation and dedication. The leader manager works side by side with colleagues to get them to understand that everyone in the group needs to work hard for the team to succeed. A strong team leader leads by example.